What kind of Beatle fan are you?

[George Drooly]

http://youtu.be/5eOuPeAfOeE

[George Drooly]

http://youtu.be/YXtuKsbORVY

[George Drooly]

http://youtu.be/v6FHnlSolic

[George Drooly]

http://youtu.be/x54tj7aUWjQ

[George Drooly]

http://youtu.be/JWcrDGvdgW0

[Robert Ghostwolf's Ghost]

I'll take your word for it as I'm not a drummer.  My favorite drummer of the period was, not surprisingly, from my favorite band of the time.  Brian "Blinky" Davison of The Nice.

If you remember The Nice, you should check out Spaceman Stan's Adventures in Plasticland  on CKWR -- http://www.ckwr.com from midnight to three Eastern Time.  He spins loads go great obscure sixties and seventies tunes and is always open to requests.  If he has it? He'll play it.

[Uncle Duke]

I don't even remember the debate.  Elvin Jones is about the only person I ever heard publicly slam Ginger.  I never heard he taped his sticks to his hands, either.  He didn't in this interview, which is pretty cool for the smooth, skillful way the middle-aged and very proper BBC interviewer coaxes him into putting on a very impressive exhibition of rudiment drumming.  BTW, Ringo is way better than he gets credit for, and Mickey Dolenz wasn't all that bad.  In fact, The Monkees weren't the only sixties group who were replaced in the studio by members of The Wrecking Crew and other studio musicians.  It was very common, because even many of the "real" groups couldn't play very well at first and would have sounded awful if they had recorded. 

Cream - Ginger Baker (Farewell Concert - Extended Edition) (9 of 11)

Now that I'm finally home (damn US Airways) and can do a little seaching, here a few things I've found relating to Baker's skills as a drummer.  The comments on the "Google Groups" from 20 years ago about Baker are interersting.  They are opinions, but seeming from drummers.  Again, I'm not a drummer, nor am I pro/con Bruce.  Just remember the debate from the day.

https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/rec.music.makers.percussion/OsOPpx06TL0

Here's a site where Baker taping sticks to his hands is mentioned.  This I distinctly remember from back in the day.

http://www.coffeerooms.com/onmusic/2008/02/jack-bruce-and.html

[Robert Ghostwolf's Ghost]

Now that I'm finally home (damn US Airways) and can do a little seaching, here a few things I've found relating to Baker's skills as a drummer.  The comments on the "Google Groups" from 20 years ago about Baker are interersting.  They are opinions, but seeming from drummers.  Again, I'm not a drummer, nor am I pro/con Bruce.  Just remember the debate from the day.

https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/rec.music.makers.percussion/OsOPpx06TL0

Here's a site where Baker taping sticks to his hands is mentioned.  This I distinctly remember from back in the day.

http://www.coffeerooms.com/onmusic/2008/02/jack-bruce-and.html

Man, that's a tough crowd on that message board!  They're bashing quite a few guys who are normally beyond reproach.  That debate about whether Ginger Baker is a great drummer or a bombastic poser has been raging since at least the early seventies.  I'm not a drummer, either, but I've been playing guitar for over forty years, and have never personally known a drummer who bashed him, for whatever that's worth.  And I've heard plenty of guitar players (and I've been guilty of it, too) over the years hating on famous guitar players for "not being nearly as good as people think," and much of it seems to be rooted in jealousy.  I imagine drummers are no different in that regard.  Given all that, I concluded a long time ago that the only thing that matters when it comes to music is if you like it and it moves you. 

[West of the Rockies]

I am a horrible, horrible person... This is blasphemous, but I do not think the Beatles were the most amazing group of ever.  I think they were over-rated by far.  I absolutely like some of their songs, but the absolute messianic worship of the band befuddles me.

On the other hand, Anne Akiko Meyer's new recording of Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons" on a $16,000,000 violin moves me to tears.  I don't mean that in a snotty way; I do very much enjoy rock and other musical genres, too, but that instrument is like an artifact from Warehouse 13.

[Designx]

I am a horrible, horrible person... This is blasphemous, but I do not think the Beatles were the most amazing group of ever.  I think they were over-rated by far.  I absolutely like some of their songs, but the absolute messianic worship of the band befuddles me.

On the other hand, Anne Akiko Meyer's new recording of Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons" on a $16,000,000 violin moves me to tears.  I don't mean that in a snotty way; I do very much enjoy rock and other musical genres, too, but that instrument is like an artifact from Warehouse 13.

I agree - the Beatles pushed pop music and rock music together and for that will be remembered - also the sonic studio tricks and techniques we take for granted today in recorded music were really developed between the Beatles and Beach Boys - this aspect will probably be most remembered in musical history. Lyrically the Beatles were relevant to their era and this allows them a bit of historical reverence. But I don't think the Beatles are any better than bands that exist today (mainly Indie) or even bands that existed before them. They just hit at the exact right time when the suppression of rock music had hit a wall in the U.S. - these "proper" Brits were the symbols of letting go. 

[West of the Rockies]

The right lads for the right time....

I've heard some people say that the Harry Potter books are really not all that amazing superior to any number of other series by other authors -- they just appeared at the right time.

[onan]

I dunno, I am not a musician, but I remember several comments by musicians saying the Beatles constructed some pretty sophisticated music.

It is hard to compare such different types of music regarding classical and popular.

I have also read that Ringo Starr was considered the best drummer in Liverpool at the time of the Pete Best drama.

[Birdie]

I am a horrible, horrible person... This is blasphemous, but I do not think the Beatles were the most amazing group of ever.  I think they were over-rated by far.  I absolutely like some of their songs, but the absolute messianic worship of the band befuddles me.

I feel much the same about Nirvana. Music critics and regular folk always say how amazing and innovative they were ... Nah. Overrated. Many bands were making music similar to and better than Nirvana at the time. Nirvana was just the first to break the Top 40, for better or worse.

I'd definitely say for the worse, because that was the end of the uniqueness of the alternative music genre in the 90's. You used to be able to tell a little bit about someone by their musical tastes. You could identify with folks who knew about bands like Rage Against the Machine, Jane's Addiction, Peter Murphy, Fishbone, early Red Hot Chili Peppers, Bad Brains, Camper Van Beethoven. Then along came Nirvana, and then Lalapolooza, and every douchebag on the planet was listening to these bands. The next thing you know, the Cure is on the radio and frat boy types are wearing Butthole Surfers and Misfits tee shirts. Pissed me off. I feel like the rising of Nirvana and grunge took away something special from me and thousands of other kids like me. And Nirvana just wasn't that good. Average, maybe slightly above average, at best.

The Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Who, the Kinks, and the British Invasion in general, gave rise to rock and roll as we know it. The popularity and success of Nirvana eventually led to bands like No Doubt being referred to as Ska and Green Day and Avril Lavigne being referred to as Punk. This makes me want to puke. The legacy of Nirvana is bands like Maroon 5 and Good Charlotte. Gah.

[Robert Ghostwolf's Ghost]

I know, everyone's sick and tired of hearing "Stairway to Heaven," but this is a different take on it with a very clever arrangement.


The Beatnix - Stairway To Heaven

[WhiteCrow]

I know, everyone's sick and tired of hearing "Stairway to Heaven," but this is a different take on it with a very clever arrangement.


The Beatnix - Stairway To Heaven

Thanks for that Perfect Storm... LOL

[pyewacket]

I'm a fan of the Beatles. I was a youngster during the British music invasion and was quite taken by their style and sound. They went through changes and fights like many other groups at the time- the 60s and early 70s produced some great music. George Harrison and John Lennon were my favorites. George H had a remarkable solo career with many songs that I still enjoy today. His collaboration with Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison, Jeff Lynne in the Traveling Wilburys produced some good music, too.

At the risk of sounding like an old foggie- I don't enjoy much of the newer artists. The music sounds too manufactured with drum machines and other enhancements. Maybe I'm missing something in the next phase of music development, but I really admire people who can play an instrument well and with style, in addition to being a singer. I like the whole package. To each his own- I guess I'll stick with old timers' music. 

[George Drooly]

At the risk of sounding like an old foggie- I don't enjoy much of the newer artists. The music sounds too manufactured with drum machines and other enhancements. Maybe I'm missing something in the next phase of music development, but I really admire people who can play an instrument well and with style, in addition to being a singer. I like the whole package. To each his own- I guess I'll stick with old timers' music.

Give Elliott Smith a try:

Elliott Smith Sweet Adeline

[Evil Twin Of Zen]

JOHN LENNON AT THE TOMORROW SHOW

[BobGrau]

I feel much the same about Nirvana. Music critics and regular folk always say how amazing and innovative they were ... Nah. Overrated. Many bands were making music similar to and better than Nirvana at the time. Nirvana was just the first to break the Top 40, for better or worse.

I'd definitely say for the worse, because that was the end of the uniqueness of the alternative music genre in the 90's. You used to be able to tell a little bit about someone by their musical tastes. You could identify with folks who knew about bands like Rage Against the Machine, Jane's Addiction, Peter Murphy, Fishbone, early Red Hot Chili Peppers, Bad Brains, Camper Van Beethoven. Then along came Nirvana, and then Lalapolooza, and every douchebag on the planet was listening to these bands. The next thing you know, the Cure is on the radio and frat boy types are wearing Butthole Surfers and Misfits tee shirts. Pissed me off. I feel like the rising of Nirvana and grunge took away something special from me and thousands of other kids like me. And Nirvana just wasn't that good. Average, maybe slightly above average, at best.

The Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Who, the Kinks, and the British Invasion in general, gave rise to rock and roll as we know it. The popularity and success of Nirvana eventually led to bands like No Doubt being referred to as Ska and Green Day and Avril Lavigne being referred to as Punk. This makes me want to puke. The legacy of Nirvana is bands like Maroon 5 and Good Charlotte. Gah.

My older sister told me to listen the Pixies when I was a Nirvana fan. I wish I'd listened.

[ksm32]

The Doors & Rush. Who are these Beatles you speak of?

[cweb]

My older sister told me to listen the Pixies when I was a Nirvana fan. I wish I'd listened.

Bossanova on my record player during a summer afternoon with the windows open = awesomeness.

I often get a little mad when people wax poetic about Nirvana and totally ignore their contemporaries. I've always been more of a Soundgarden fan. I mean, sure, they had their share of really big hits. And yes, they're doing the reunion thing. But the appeal of Soundgarden is that they've always been a little bit weird. (Okay, Screaming Life/Fopp is a bit more than weird.)

When they released King Animal a few years back, I didn't show up hoping to hear that grunge sound. That's been done. But was the album weird enough? They couldn't match those glorious early 90s. But there was enough strangeness to keep me happy.

As for the Beatles, they've got some great tunes. They probably get too much credit, but there's still a lot of talent there. George Harrison's solo effort "All Things Must Pass" is a masterpiece.

[FightTheFuture]

JOHN LENNON AT THE TOMORROW SHOW

Tom Snyder was the TV version of Art Bell for his time. He was the best! Damn, I miss him!

Lennon was ok, too.

[gbneely]

This kind of fan:

http://youtu.be/PN9n1bAahg4

[West of the Rockies]

Great song... I very much like the Fiona Apple version (and video).

[Robert Ghostwolf's Ghost]

In this undated photo, two Beatles fans react to Paul's playful invitation to, "coom on over and straddle me thooombs, luvs."  Clearly, they're repulsed by the idea, but they're obviously considering it nonetheless, because it is Paul McCartney, after all.

[attachimg=1]